The basis of the book is a series of biographical essays on the half-forgotten associates of Peter I - prominent representatives of the nomenclature of the early 18th century, whose works laid the foundation for imperial Russia. The book contains biographies of M.P. Avramov, A.P. Veselovsky, A.A. Kurbatov, G.G. Skornyakov-Pisarev, D.A. Solovyov, P.P. Shafirov.